Salzburg is a city in Austria, located alongside the German border, just next to the majestic Eastern Alps. The city is made up of two halves; on the left of the Salzach River is the Old City Altstadt with its baroque and medieval houses, while the New City Neustadt is situated on the right bank of the river. The old city is famous as being the birthplace of renowned music composer Mozart. His home has been converted into a museum with his different childhood musical instruments on display.
The village of Hallstatt is located on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut mountainous area of Austria. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular tourist destination with mesmerizing views. The village is famous for its salt production mines which date back to the prehistoric times. The culture in Hallstatt is often associated with the Pro-Celtic and Celtic people belonging to the Early Iron Age in the continent, i.e., c.800–450 BC. Some earliest relics and archeological proof of Celts have been found in this serene lakeside village.
Hallstatt is home to Alpine homes of the 16th century and narrow pathways with quaint shops and cafes. Tourists can use a funicular railway to get to the old salt mine ‘Salzwelten’ which has a subterranean salt lake. The railway also connects to the awesome viewing platform ‘Skywalk Hallstatt.’ Tourists can hike the garden of Echern Valley glacier and check out the stunning Waldbachstrub Waterfall and numerous glacial potholes.
The journey from Salzburg to Hallstatt is only a few hours long, covering a distance of 72.9 kilometers. The trip is breathtaking as well as really enjoyable.
Different ways to get from Salzburg to Hallstatt
Tourists can drive a car from Salzburg to Hallstatt or they can use any of the public transport options.
- Drive a Car
- Drive east from Salzburg on the 158 road that goes to the historic and cultural town of Bad Ischl. The route is really scene and the road passes through Wolfgangsee and Fuschlsee before arriving at Bad Ischl. From there drive to Bad Goisern on the 145 road, and then take the 166 and L547 to reach the lakeside village of Hallstatt.
- Use Public Transport options
- Option 1: Tourists can take the ‘bus 150’ from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, then a train to Hallstatt railway station, and finally a ferry ride across the lake to the pristine village.
- For adults, the ticket price for bus 150 is around €10.50, the train ride costs €4.20, and the ferry ride costs €2.40. So the total cost of travel from Salzburg to Hallstatt is around €17.
- If you leave the main bus station at Salzburg at 8.15 AM on the 150 bus, then you will reach Hallstatt around 11 AM.
- This is the most scenic route, especially after arriving at Fuschlsee. The ride takes you across St Gilgen, Fuschl, and Strobl on Wolfgangsee before arriving at Bad Ischl. The subsequent train ride is also wondrous. To get the best sights, sit on the left side during the bus ride and on the ride side in the train.
- Do not throw away the ferry ticket. Use it when ordering at the Heritage restaurant/café to avail of a discount on tea/coffee and cake orders.
- Option 2: You can take the ‘bus 150’ from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, then go to Gosau on bus 542, and finally take bus 543 to Hallstatt.
- For adults, the ticket price for bus 150 is around €10.50 and ticket prices for bus 542/543 is around €4.50. So the total cost is around €15.
- If you leave the main bus station at Salzburg at 8.15 AM on the 150 bus, then you will reach Hallstatt around 10.50 AM.
- The last 543/542 bus to Bad Ischl leaves Hallstatt bus station at 4.50 PM. If it is missed, then use the ferry and train option. Visitors who want to spend some time sightseeing in Bad Ischl may note that the last 150 bus from Bad Ischl is at 7.30 PM and reaches Salzburg at 8.50 PM.
- Option 3: You can take a train from Salzburg to Attnang Puchheim and another train (Austrian Railway) from there to Hallstatt railway station. Finally, take the ferry to reach the village. This route becomes really scenic after arriving at Gmunden. For great sights, sit on the left side till Bad Ischl and then move to the right side of the train.
- For adults, the second class ticket price for both the trains is around €27. First class tickets are available only on the train from Salzburg to Attnang Puchheim; for first class tickets the total ticket cost is around €38.50. The train operator for the first leg of the journey is Westbahn. The ferry ride costs €2.40. Thus the total cost is around €30 for second class and around €41 for first class.
- The ERT/Einfach Raus Ticket: The ERT is a ticket meant to be used by a group of 2 to 5 individuals. It is valid on REX/regional express, R/regional, and S-Bahn trains of ÖBB. It can be used Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 3 AM the next day. On weekends and on bank holidays, it can be used from 12 AM to 3 AM the next day. If the ERT is bought from a ticket machine of the ÖBB, then it is priced around €35. If it is purchased from a ticket office, then you can avail of a supplement.
- Combination tickets are sold by OBB and they include the train ticket costs, the ferry ride, and the admission ticket to the salt mine.
- People who are travelling as a family or in a group on a non-working day will find the ERT train tickets to offer better value for money. You may also choose the ERT ticket on a working day.
- With ERT tickets, on working days, the first train leaves at around 10.30 AM and you will reach Hallstatt railway station at around 1.30 PM. On weekends and bank holidays, valid ERT trains leave at 8.40 AM and reach Hallstatt at around 11.30 AM. On Saturdays only, there is one train that leaves Salzburg at 7.40 AM.
- With standard non-ERT train tickets, tourists can leave Salzburg at around 7.10 AM and reach Hallstatt station at around 9.30 AM.
- The last ferry to the Hallstatt station leaves at 6.15 PM. The last train from Hallstatt to Bad Ischl, and from there to Attnang Puchheim, leaves at 6.30 PM.
Options 1 and 2 are ideal for working days due to the arrival time at Hallstatt station when ERT tickets are used for option 3. However, those who have purchased OBB combination tickets can opt for option 3 as it includes tickets for standard trains. Option 2 is a better option on non-working days as it is cheaper than the other two options.
Luggage lockers are available at the main railway station in Salzburg. Bad Ischl railway station has very few lockers. Luggage can be left at Hallstatt tourist office on only workdays for a small fee. The tourist office closes at 5 PM, but uncollected luggage is left outside the office.